Gyroscopic toy



July 10; 1923. 1,461,313.

, H. HBRARD I GYROSCOPIG TOY Filed July 14. 1921 s sheets syeet 1 HUM/V67 July 10, 1923. 1,461,313

" H. HEBRARD GYROSCOPIC TOY Filed July 14. 1921 3 Shuts-Sheet 5 Patented July 10, 1923.

umrun STATES ii I 1,461,313 Parentio ifl:. Q

' HENRI scanner, or sonnux, rnencn.v

' "GYRoscoPrc roY'. 1

Application filed July 14', 192i. Serial no. 484,698.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HENRI HnBRARD, a citizen of the Republic of France, and resident of Sceaux, Seine, France (post-oflice address 54.- Rue Voltaire), has invented new and useful Gyroscopic Toys, which improve ments are fully set forth in the followlng specification: e

Iy invention relates to a toymoving'on two Wheels and involves a novel. application of the gyroscope, this device being ut1 lized asa driving agent while ensuringg in the well known manner, the balance ofthe toy during the latters travel.

The toy which'is the ob]e ct of my ln'ven tion can assume many. varied forms remi- -nicent of two-wheeled vehicles, as an example; my invention will be described hereinafte'r as applied-to a scooter and a bicycle.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood I have appended hereto drawings wherein Figure l is a side elevation of a scooter built according to my'invention;

'Figure 2 is same;

Figure 3-15 aside elevationofa gyro scopic' toy imitatingthe torpedo-cycle,

withpa'rt of thefuselage-broken away to afford a view of the mechanism of the toy; Figures 4 and 5 show various methods of using'the toy;

-Figure 6 is an embodiment of'niy invem tion as applied tofa' bicycle' -riddenby a- 'cy'clist-who'se-legs follow the movements of the pedals.

In a gyroscopic toybuilt according to my toy; the diameter of the axle being much smaller than that of the wheel 3, there is obtained the reductionratio required on ac.- count of the considerable speed of rotation on the gyroscope. The wheel 3 has its rim preferably fitted with a rubber band. The

frame C comprises a part 4 intended to guide the transmission cord 2and to prevent it from contacting with the gyroscope a bottom plan view ofthe rim which, without this provision, would have abraking' action imposed on it by said cord and could not keep 'moving' The fork 5 of-the steering wheel 6 is mounted loose in its support -7 so'as to allow it tofrevolve' freely-in thesaidsupport'dun ingthe working Iof thetoy, such freedom of motion being necessary for balancing? It will be observed-that, asshown-by Fig ure 1, the fork'5 is reverse'dlascompared with the/position usually occupies on a bicycle. I

VVhen invention Sis: applied"to a r scooter, as shown'by Figure l',' the feet of the dolls, are fixed on the 'frame and its hands, secured to a rode simulating the steering rod of thetoy.

a In order to .usethejtoy, it is merely nee fessary to set the'gyso'scope going, in'the well-known manner, by means of a string] and to put down the toy on fairly smooth ground. The cord Q transmits'to the drive-;

wheel 3 the rotary motion of the gyroscope and the toy moves straight on, its stability"- being ensured by the'gyroscope. Thetorpedo cycle shown by Figure 3 is built in the same way, except for this sole difference that the frame'is in the form of a fuselage 9 inside which the'mechanism 'is located, such fuselagebeing supposed to'en close the cyclist. The fuselage canbe. of open-work or skeleton character so as to permit access to thegy'r'oscope for-setting it going, or it can beientirely closed", as

sho-w-n'by 'Figure In the latterfcase" awindow or any other-suitable device has to be provided for settingthe apparatus going. Aswshown' by Figure 4;, the toy can be made to descenda track 'endingat itsjlowe'r" portion in a vertical circlewithin which the toy runs, performing a looping the loop. Another method of using the toy consists in'makingsit run around a mast as shown by Figure 5; for this purpose a small cord is tied to one of the eyes 10 on the points between which the axle of the apparatus revolves, and over the mast is passed a loop made at the other end of the cord.. The toy will then describe around. the mast circumferences having a radius equal 'to the length of the cord. The same result might be obtained by suspending a weight'from one of the eyes 10. i v The toy can be .fitted with planes to appear as an aviette or flying push-bicycle.

In the same order of ideas, the gyroscope can be made to control, instead of the drive wheel 3, a tractor or propeller screw that will cause the toy to move on.

In the foregoing description, it has been specified that the gyroscope is usedas a motor and this is an all important characteristic of my invention. My invention however, also contemplates a variation of the system according to which the motive power necessary to make the toy move on is sup: plied from or by another source (a spring clockwork, for instance which can be wound up and will set the gyroscope rotating).

As shown by Figure 6, the toy can be animated, i. e., for instance, in the case 'where the gyroscope isapplied to a bicycle,

the rider can be made to pedal exactly like a live cyclist riding a real bicycle.

It must be clearly understood that the bicycle is quoted only as an example, and that my present improvement will hold good as applied toany vehicle or apparatus inthe shape of which the'toy may be made.

As shown by Figure 6, the gyroscope located. at a, carries at a a small pulley around which passes an endless cable or cord Z) the displacement of which actuates a wheel 0 which constitutes the part that makes the riders feet move thus playing the part of a crank pedal; said cord Z also driving the rearwheel of the bicycle. The riderslegs, being articulated, have a pedalling motion imparted to them by the rotation of wheel 0, while his body is rigidly fixed on the frame. Instead of passing around the rim of the rear wheel d, the cable 6 passes along a groove lateral to the wheel. an arrangement which allows the said wheel. to. remain in the plane of symmetry of the apparatus.

The front or steering wheel 6- is somounted that its upper rod f can freely turn in the socket g secured on the frame.

The apparatus is set going, as in the preceding cases, by means of a string wound around the axle of the flywheel a and on which a rapid traction is exerted toimpart impetus to the said flywheel.

The. toy can movestraight on or be made llO;1I1OV along any curvilinearpath- While moving, it is controlled and guided by means of a string tied at h on the riders back. l)uc to this string the user can lead the toy and as he can impart toit, for instance during turning, an impulsive motion, the toy, once wound up can work indefinitely, the windingup that keeps the gyroscope rotating being effected automatically by the users intermittent pulls.v

It must be understood, of course, that with this device as with the foregoing ones, the gyroscope can be set rotating either by a string or cord or by any mechanical means electrical or otherwise, whether amplifying or not.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed, what I claim is:

1. A gyroscopictoy, comprising a frame;

front and rear wheels supported thereby" and adapted to-travel along, a smooth sup.- porting surface; a gyroscope mounted on the frame and having a driving, connection leading from it to one wheel; and a figure mounted on said frame and having movable parts operatively associated with said driving connection to be actuated thereby.

2. A gyroscopic toy, comprising a frame;

front and rear wheels supported thereby:

and adapted to travel along a smooth. supporting surface; a gyroscope mounted on' the frame and having a driving connection leading from it to one wheel; a figureems, bodying a fixed part rigidly secured to the frame and a part or'parts movably related;

to the fixed part and operativelyassociated with said driving connection to be actuated thereby; and a flexible element connected to the fixed part of said figure to guidethe'toy.

and abruptly impel it during its travel so as to wind the gyroscope.

In testimony whereof I have signedthis specification in the presence of a subscribing.

witness. I

HENRI HEBRARD.

Witness FERNAND. Doroun. 

